Eastern Money Quietly Buys the Waterfront
In 1901 the best land in Everett changed hands in a deal whose terms were 'not made public.' Residents found out what it meant years later.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
It was learned yesterday that title to the greater part of the tide lands lying between the city dock and the smelter has passed to the Everett Improvement Company, the consideration being withheld from the public record.
The company, whose principal stockholders reside in the East, now controls substantially all of the frontage upon which new industry might locate, together with the approaches to the harbor.
Inquiry at the company's offices produced the statement that the purchase was made 'in the ordinary course of business' and that announcements would be made 'at the proper time.'
“The consideration being withheld from the public record.”
Who owns the waterfront — and finds out the terms only 'at the proper time' — is still Everett's live question, as the port, developers, and the city negotiate the same shoreline today.
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